Which place is cheaper, Bangalore or Koh Samui?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Koh Samui or Bangalore?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Bangalore? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Koh Samui or Bangalore?
Koh Samui
The largest island on the east coast of southern Thailand, Ko Samui (or Koh Samui) sees a good number of visitors every year who come for its lush rainforest, beautiful shores, and undersea wildlife. The size of the island is still small enough to allow visitors to circumnavigate it with a taxi or motorbike in a day, while hikers and outdoor enthusiasts can find plenty of inland activities in the hills and jungle.
Bangalore
Bangalore is the capital city of the state of Karnataka, in India. It's also India's third largest city with a population of about 8.5 million. It's considered one of the most liveable cities in the country and was historically known for its many gardens and lush green spaces. Today those areas are all but gone, having given way to the growing population and sprawling metropolises. Bangalore is also the information technology hub of the country and is sometimes referred to as India's Silicon Valley.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, and The Best Luxury Tours to India.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesBangalore Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $76Bangalore $47
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $76, while the average daily cost in Bangalore is $47. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Koh Samui and Bangalore in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $25Bangalore $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $50Bangalore $36
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Bangalore
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Bangalore? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Koh Samui Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $19Bangalore $8.60
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Koh Samui:
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Scooter Rental$2.28
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Gas for Scooter$1.22
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Airport Taxi$13
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Taxi- Na Thon Pier to Lamai Beach$13
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Minibus- Airport to Chaweng$3.65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Samui
Also for Koh Samui, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Thrilling 2 Hour ATV Jungle with Hotel Transfer from Koh Samui: $88
- The Red Baron Luxury Yacht Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $165
- Smooth Koh Samui to Krabi Catamaran and Bus or Van Transfer: $52
- Smooth Koh Phangan to Phuket Transfer by Catamaran and Bus: $66
- Samui Zipline Adventure with Transfer service: $53
- Private round trip Transfers from Samui Airport: $37
- Private Transfer from Taling Ngam to Samui (USM) Airport: $68
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Samui City: $49
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Mae Nam: $68
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Lamai: $38
- Private Transfer from Mae Nam to Samui (USM) Airport: $68
- Private Transfer from Lamai to Samui (USM) Airport: $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangalore
Also for Bangalore, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Vineyard Tour to Beautiful Nandi Hills including Wine Tasting & Private Transfer: $238
- Private Arrival Transfer: Bengaluru International Airport to Bangalore Hotels: $84
- Private Departure Transfer: Bangalore Hotels to Bengaluru International Airport: $75
- Bengaluru Airport (BLR) to Bengaluru Round-Trip Transfer: $75
- Wild Life Jeep Safari Tour at Bannerghatta with Private Transfer: $71
- Bangalore - private arrival transfer from airport to hotel: $58
- Private Departure Transfer from City Hotel to Bengaluru Airport - 10PM to 6AM: $52
- Bengaluru Airport (BLR) to Bengaluru - Arrival Private Transfer: $41
- Bengaluru City to Bengaluru Kempegowda Airport (BLR)- Departure Private Transfer: $41
- Bengaluru Kempegowda Airport (BLR) to Bengaluru Arrival Transfer: $37
- Bengaluru to Bengaluru Airport (BLR) - Departure Private Transfer: $37
- Bangalore Airport (BLR) Private Transfer to Bangalore City/Hotels: $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Bangalore?
Prices for flights to both Bangalore and Koh Samui change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayKoh Samui $37Bangalore $19
Typical Food Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Samui:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Samui
For Koh Samui, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Koh Samui Local Market Hin Ta Hin Yai and Beach Dinner: $36
- Samui Suppers Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Cooking Class by Samui Native Instructor Geng and O Family: $78
- Thai Cooking Class | Farm to Table: $78
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui with Market Tour: $78
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui: $79
- Thai Cooking Masterclass by the Sea on Koh Samui: $80
- Thai Cooking Class from Koh Samui with Local Market: $86
- Romantic Evening on Koh Samui’s Sunset Dinner Cruise: $106
- Sunset Dinner Cruise Koh Samui The Red Baron: $109
- Red Baron : A Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $112
- Koh Samui Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise with Return Transfer (SHA Plus): $120
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangalore
For Bangalore, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Pop-Up Dinner in Bangalore with Focus on Sustainable Food: $22
- Traditional Cooking Classes & Dinner with Chef Family: $45
- Traditional Gowda Cooking Class and Meal in a Bangalore Home: $59
- Discover Bangalore's Cuisine: Private Half-Day Cooking Experience: $60
- Private In-Home Cooking Demonstration and Meal in Bangalore: $68
- Private South Indian Cooking Class in Bangalore with a Local: $78
- Private Bengaluru Food Walking Tour with Dinner: $99
- Private Cooking and Dining Experience in Bengaluru: $100
- Cooking experience in Bangalore, a half day tour: $115
- Authentic Indian Cooking Class: $149
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12Bangalore $9.71
Tours and Activities in Koh Samui
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
- 2 Hour ATV Jungle Adventure in Koh Samui Mountain Viewpoints: $87
- 2 Hours ATV Quad Bike Popular Tour From Koh Samui: $110
- 2-Hour Koh Samui ATV Quad Tour: $58
- 2.5-Hours ATV Jungle Adventure Experience from Koh Phangan: $120
- 3 Hour ATV Secret Waterfall Adventure in Koh Samui: $109
- 4 Hour Ultimate ATV Jungle Tour in Koh Samui Lunch Included: $140
- 6 Hours Elephant Care and Jungle Tour by 4WD in Koh Samui: $62
- ATV 1.5 Hours Jungle Safari Tour On Koh Phangan: $76
- ATV 2 hrs. Jungle Adventure on the Mountain Way in Koh Samui: $63
- ATV Jungle & Mountain Trails 30-Min Off-Road Adventure Koh Samui: $47
- Adventure Kayaking at Angthong Marine Park: $115
- Amazing Koh Samui "Must Visit" Private Tour: $177
Tours and Activities in Bangalore
For Bangalore, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- (Mysuru) Mysore Day Out - A Royal Experience Private Tour from Bangalore: $125
- 2 day Motorcycle tour from Bangalore to Belur, Halebid & Shravanabelagola: $288
- 3 Days Taj Mahal Tour From Bengaluru to Agra: $64
- 8-Hour Custom Private Tour of Bengaluru: $150
- Art & Craft Tour of Bangalore: $98
- Authentic Shopping Experience in Bangalore for Souvenirs & Gifts: $38
- Bangalore Basavanagudi Heritage Self Guided Walking Tour: $7.99
- Bangalore City Tour (Lunch, Pick up & drop at hotel): $100
- Bangalore City Tour Full-Day Private: $204
- Bangalore Discovery: Full-Day Private Guided City Tour: $80
- Bangalore Explorer: 3-Day Tour of the Garden City: $259
- Bangalore Full Day Private City Tour: $58
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.16Bangalore $8.04
Sample the Local Flavors in Bangalore
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Bangalore:
- Pub Crawl Bangalore: $35
- Bengaluru Pub Crawler - Nightlife Walking Tour: $89
- Brews of Bengaluru- Pub Crawl: $95
- Bangalore Wine Trails: Grover Zampa Vineyard & Wine Tasting: $161
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Bangalore, we can see that Koh Samui is more expensive. And not only is Bangalore much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bangalore would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bangalore and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Koh Samui would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Samui than you might in Bangalore.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Samui Expensive? and Is Bangalore Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Bangalore?
Bangalore has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Bangalore, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.